Abstract

Traffic signals, even though crucial for safe operations of busy intersections, are one of the leading causes of travel delays in urban settings, as well as the reason why billions of gallons of fuel are burned each year by idling engines, releasing tons of unnecessary toxic pollutants to the atmosphere. Recent advances in cellular networks and dedicated short-range
communications make Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications a reality, as individual cars and traffic signals can now be equipped with numerous communication and computing devices. In this thesis, an initial comprehensive literature search is carried out on topics related
to traffic flow models, connected vehicles, eco-driving, traffic signal timing, and the application of connected vehicle technologies in improving the operation of signalized networks. Then a car-following model and an emission model are combined to simulate the behavior of vehicles at signalized intersections and calculate traffic delays in queues, vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Next, a strategy to provide mobility and environment improvements in signalized networks is presented. In this strategy, the control variable is the advisory speed limit, which
is designed to smooth vehicles’ speed profiles taking advantage of Vehicle-to-Intersection communication. Finally, the performance of the control system is studied depending on market penetration rate and traffic conditions, as well as communication, positioning and network
characteristics. In particular, savings of around 15% in user delays and around 8% in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are demonstrated.